... and everything in between

Drag engraving can be an easy and forgiving process for marking metals, ceramics, plastics… basically anything. The tool itself is really simple, and some smart toolpathing is all you need to employ this technique.

Vacuum workholding can be a super useful technique to hold flat materials on a CNC. Short of investing in an industrial grade setup like the Pierson SmartVac system though, Rockler’s Vacuum Clamp Pods can be an effective stand-in for woodworkers and CNC hobbyists.

STL files are to 3D models, as PDFs are to documents on the internet. They are the de facto standard for sharing files, particularly for 3D printing. However, their inflexible, static nature can make them difficult to manipulate and machine. Thankfully, Fusion 360 is up to the task of generating toolpaths to machine models you’d […]

I have a love-hate relationship with wood. On the one hand, it’s the foundation for countless beautiful pieces throughout history. On the other, the non-isotropic properties of the fiberous stuff makes it annoying to machine at times. When cutting it, fibers can lift away from your piece leaving a ragged edge. But there is a […]

Recently a few of you asked if I’d be willing to share my Carbide3D tool library, presumably for the sake of time savings, which I’m more than happy to do. C3D Tools.zip As always, these files are provided with no guarantees or support. I’m 99% sure the programmed geometry of these cutters is correct, but […]

I’m a big believer in the value of digital fabrication, not only in empowering Makers, but also educating. CNC is a perfect trojan horse for learning fundamentals of material science, physics, and programming. Why CNC is such a niche market compared to 3D printing is beyond me. Well… actually, I have ideas why. Learning to […]